02/05/2004 - Regional AGM
North-East Region BTA - Annual General MeetingAcklam Sports Centre – Sunday 2nd May 2004
1. Welcome from the Chairman, Jem Lawson, who mentioned his time as Chairman and confirmed his intention to resign. Jem expressed his thanks to all Committee Members who have assisted during his time of service.
2. There were no comments made on previous minutes.
3. There were therefore no matters arising from the above.
4. One Stop Plan – To reiterate comments made in the minutes of a recent meeting, the BTA bid and were recognised by the British Sports Cabinet. Triathlon, along with 9 other sports was awarded priority status. This will give the sport a higher profile and result in more financial input from lottery funding etc. To comply, the BTA have to submit a One Stop Plan.
a) The Plan relating to the Performance side of the sport is already in place.
b) The Participation Plan has to be in by November and is to be delivered by England, Scotland and Wales regions, each having to create a four-year plan.
At this point Paul Jones, our new Regional Development Officer was introduced and Paul explained further that Sport England are providing people as advisors and the BTA will provide a template to create this plan which will drive the sport of triathlon for 4 years. A bigger part is to be played by England with a more enhanced role than at present.
5. Financial Report from Treasurer – Frank Whitlock.
A copy of the year’s accounts was passed to those attending. The accounts were agreed and will now be passed to the BTA for approval.
Summary as follows: -
Accounts BTA Northern Region 01/04/03 to 31/03/04
Income
Balance as of 31/03/03 - £327.63
BTA Grant 30/08/03 - £1000.00
BTA Presentation Dinner 25/10/03 (attendees) - £1920.00
BTA Presentation Dinner (Children’s Subsidies – NECT) - £200.00
Total Income - £3447.63
Expenditure
BTA Grand Prix Trophies - £655.55
BTA Presentation Dinner - £1694.35
BTA Presentation Dinner Expenses - £50.29
NE Region Website – Set up costs - £35.25
Total Expenditure - £2435.44
Balance as of 31/03/2004 = £1012.19
6. Officer’s Reports
Chairman – Jem Lawson
Jem made a brief comment that we were a small but vibrant region with good events and attendance and that we have the Children’s side of the sport organised.
Secretary – Sue Richmond
Sue mentioned current problems with the Regional e-mail address, which has been sending multiple e-mails to a number of people. This is being addressed and apologies were given for the inconvenience. Please direct any amendments, changes of address or issues you wish to raise with regard to this Group E-Mail List to Paul Jones at one-life@tiscali.co.uk
Sanctioning Advisor – Pete Craggs
Events are now being sanctioned by the BTA who have assumed the responsibility. Pete Craggs title is now ‘Advisor’. Pete has put together a list of events including the contact information for the Event Organiser and the name of the Referee. If anyone organising any event has difficulty in obtaining a Referee, please contact Pete at peter.craggs@cgey.com
Young Triathletes Representative – Nigel Ellam
No report at this time.
7. Regional Website
All present agreed that this is terrific and thanks were passed to John Howells. John took the opportunity to thank the region for their help and input. His feeling is that we are not 8 or 9 separate clubs but that this region is one big club, ready to help each other and promote the sport. The web page is now also available on www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk you need to click on Regional Sport and use the side bar. Whilst there is nothing there which isn’t on our own website, the point is that this is aimed at the General Public.
8. 2004 Events
Grand Prix & Championship Events
The Grand Prix this year includes Meadowfield and Stokesley Duathlons and is the best of 4 events. The exceptions are Weardale, which is the Sprint Championship and Prince Bishops, which is the Olympic Championship event.
There followed a conversation about future regional events, commenting that it is a lot to take on by a club and that Prince Bishop’s is the only standard distance event in the region. Maybe the new committee could consider organising an event with responsibility spread throughout local clubs. The Cleveland Short course was mentioned as a possibility to increase to standard distance and whilst the swim would be no problem, the bike course would have to be thought out carefully. There was also the thought that the short course is good to be kept at just that – short! So would it be possible to have 2 events? The current organiser, Jen Milsom simply would not have the time to organise 2 events: a possibility may be for every club to guarantee a specific number of marshals. At present this was simply a passing around of ideas.
9. Presentation Evening
Jem and Elspeth Lawson will again organise this and the date is to be 16th October.
10. Children’s & Youths
This year’s programme is now running. Ryton Children’s Duathlon has had to be cancelled due to lack of entries despite promotional efforts.
11. Election of Officers
The following were nominated and seconded:
Chairman: No nominations were made at the meeting and the region will operate without a Chair until a replacement is found.
Vice Chairman: Eddie Cooper (NE31)
Secretary: Sandra Main (Cleveland Biketraks)
Treasurer: Ian Maddison (Ryton Tri)
Sanctioning Advisor: Peter Craggs (Cleveland Biketraks)
Young Triathletes Rep: Nigel Ellam (Sun City)
Talent Identification: Laura Davies (Tyne Tri)
Website Manager: John Howells (co-opted)(Durham Tri)
Regional Development Officer: Paul Jones (co-opted) (Tyne Tri)
Eddie Cooper expressed his thanks to members of the outgoing committee.
12. Other Matters
It was noted that Hartlepool Triathletes were winners of The National Relays but that there was no trophy for their category. It was suggested and agreed that a new award for this could be donated from the Northern Region and that the first name to appear on this will be Hartlepool. This will become a national trophy.
Meeting Declared Closed